25 November 2008 6:18 PM

What is the POINT of the Elite League's new scoring system

I don't know about 'pioneering' but when I first saw the new team scoring system for British speedway, I couldn't think of anything I'd seen that was more ridiculous.

Instead of just simply reinstating the aggregate bonus point which was done away with last year, the promoters on returing from the annual BSPA conference in Spain, have come up with a scheme that rewards visiting teams even if they don't win!

Did they put something in the water over there? Or did the promoters just get so drunk they didn't realise what they were doing?

I only ask because what sense does rewarding a team points for losing? The BSPA's theory is that it will make speedway more entertaining.

NOTE TO PROMOTERS: It's been going fine for the past 80 or so years thank you very much - apart from your endless tinkering of the rules every season.

This is the new team scoring system:Home defeat by any amount = 0Home draw = 1Home win by between 1 and 6 points = 2Home win by 7 points or more = 3Away defeat by 7 points or more = 0Away defeat by 6 points or less = 1Away draw = 2Away by between 1 and 6 points = 3Away by 7 points or more = 4

Make sense doesn't it? I mean who came up with this? Will anybody own up? My bet is Chris Van Straaten or Chris Morton. I don't even think the Sky TV team of Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum will get it? I certainly don't.

And this is supposed to make sense to speedway newcomers?

But as usual, the nine Elite League promoters have come back from sunny Spain all singing from the same hymn sheet..well nearly.

I was most surprised at Coventry manager Peter Oakes, a speedway man through and through and journalist.

"I welcome anything that makes the team manager's value to the team in a tactical sense more important,' he told Speedway Star. As long as it makes your job more interesting then Peter.

He adds: 'I'm happy with teams being rewarded for keeping the scores close, and we have to accept that a close match can actually be entertaining and exciting even if there isn't a great deal of overtaking.'

Only Eastbourne promoter Bob Dugard went against the grain when he was quoted as saying he was a 'little surprised at the new points system, believing it to be potentially over-complicated'. Potentially?

Well did he agree with it or not at the BSPA conference? How is it voted in then?

Swindon co-promoter Gary Patchett said: "I really like the radical scoring which should make most meeting viable until a late stage. I'm not sure of the maths at the moment...' It's definitely radical Gary. I hope your maths improves.

Belle Vue team boss and co-promoter Chris Morton was the who really shocked me. He says: 'I remember a match at Wolves where we lost by three but felt we deserved something for what we had put into the match, Under the new system, Wolves will still get two points for the home win but we'd get one as well and that seems fair.'

And this was coming from a former England international and world finalist.

Wolves chief Chris Van Straaten chipped in with 'It's only fair the away team is rewarded'

Fair? There has to be winners and losers in sport. That is what makes sport what it is.

I'm sure Felipe Massa thought he 'deserved' to win the Forumula One world title this year after Lewis Hamilton pipped him by a point on the last lap of the Brazil Grand Prix.

I'm sure John Terry thinks Chelsea 'deserved' to win the Champions League final but for missing that penalty. Catch my drift? I could go on...

Sport is about achivements and failures. And speedway should be no different. The promoters are almost saying 'everybody's a winner.'

Van Straaten, who is also BSPA vice-chairman, added: 'I feel measures have been taken to ensure our sport is still a quality, affordable product which is vital in the current climate.'

That explains the 39.90 team building average then - designed to put off even more Grand Prix riders from appearing in the Elite League to save money.

I can't wait to see Swindon's team next year then with GP star Leigh Adams taking up more than a quarter of that.

There was no comment at all from Ipswich, Lakeside or Poole. Cat got your tongues?

Peterborough promoter Mick Bratley's two pennysworths was even more revealing.

He says: 'Riders have to realise that clubs will not be held to ransom. If a rider should reject what is a fair and reasonable offer from his club, his availability will be circulated to other clubs along with details of the deal offered.

'Were another promoter then to offer that particular rider considerably more money it would be frowned upon - in fact - all it would do is take us all a step closer to a wage cap being introduced in the future.'

Frowned upon? So riders are not allowed to hold you to ransom Mick but you can do the same to them?

Quite clearly, some clubs will be able to pay more than others, depending on their owners.

We all know champions Poole have a few quid and the likes of Ipswich are the paupers. That's life.

It's the same reason why Cristiano Ronaldo plays at Manchester United and not Wigan.

And speedway has always been 'fair' by the fact teams are limited by the team points celling.

A speedway's rider career is short and they risk life and limb every time they step on to a motorcycle.

Ok, no one is asking him too and that doesn't mean they can demand the earth (as some clearly have in the past) but they deserve better than this don't they?

All what will happen now is promoters will offer lower wages to their riders, while blaming the credit crunch. I hope the riders tell them where to go..

xxxx

David Norris for Great Britain manager? Well why not? It can't do any harm can it?

Then again after the way former boss Jim Lynch was dumped by text he may think again.

My hunch is the riders obviously did not take to Lynch and that has got back to the powerbrokers at the BSPA.

Sadly though, I don't think Norris will make a difference. With only Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris (who has struggled in the World Cup), the cupboard is bare.

Tai Woffiden has huge potential but we can't keep talking up a teenager who has not even ridden in the Elite League full-time yet.

As Norris has said, even at 36, he could probably still get in the team himself.

Comments

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The new scoring system may make matches more exciting - when it comes to how many points a team will get. But that's not the point. It is speedway racing.

The new points system will not make the actual racing any closer or any more exciting. That is the issue the promoters should have tackled.

However, the loss of most of the top names from British speedway in 2009 may make the racing better. Far too often the top GP riders, on their super-fast bikes, disappear into the distance after the second bend. There's no passing them one they are gone. Even other GP riders struggle to do that so there's no hope for the 'regular' rider.

With no GP riders we may see closer racing between more evenly matched riders. And that will be a good thing. If that happens, who will miss the GP boys.

You might liken it to motor racing. There's loads of passing in touring cars but some F1 GPs are like watching paint dry. In those races, excitement and race wins are determined on how fast a team can fill a car with petrol.

It is a good job Tony Millard does not do too many league matches if any. "It is heat 10 and if it stays this way Poole will get 6 points and Coventry will get 4. Where are we? Oh and here comes the 5 times Norwegian champion one time Polish champion followed by the oldest man in the field and the highest paid sportsman in Poland. It is heat 12 now and if it stays this wey then Poole will get 4 points, no 6 or will Lakeside,sorry Ipswich sorry Coventry get 5 points sorry 4 points"
I can think of several team managers who will have to check the league table the following day to see how many points they have achieved if any. The amount of protests and appeals over results will keep authorities busy whoever they maybe.The most important impact of all this regardless of which SGP riders stay in the league or not is the fact that every team bar BV at this juncture will have to drop a team member. Riding in the Elite League is no better than working as a temp at Tescos. Loyalty counts - for nothing. Riders views? Sorry not consulted - they are just a necessary evil.